Evaluation of Ultrasound Probe for Use in Bladder Radiotherapy

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer affects over 3,000 new patients in the UK each year and radiotherapy comprises a key part of the treatment pathway for many of them. Bladder radiotherapy in the UK involves delivery of radiation to the entire bladder volume and aims to deliver a high dose to the bladder while sparing nearby healthy organs (e.g. the bowel). Unfortunately, large variations in bladder shape and volume are observed throughout treatment that compromise the probability of a positive outcome for the patient, either by increasing the risk of side-effects or by reducing the likelihood of adequately treating the disease.

In recent years, the implementation of 'adaptive' bladder radiotherapy strategies has increased. These techniques allow modification of the treatment based on the observed variations in bladder shape and volume. However, these strategies often rely on daily X-ray imaging of the patient prior to treatment, which is time-consuming and associated with a small risk of inducing a cancer in the patient.

This study will evaluate the potential of a commercially available ultrasound probe for use as an alternative to X-ray scanning during treatment for these patients. The study will also aim to compare the likelihood of reducing side-effects and successfully treating the disease for the different adaptive strategies that are used around the world.